Languages of Senegal
Senegal is a multilingual ( " multilingual " ) Country - Ethnologue lists 39 languages for Senegal on.
Official language is French
The French language was introduced during the country's colonial period. Today it is the official language of Senegal and thus language of secondary education, the parliament and the courts. Also, literature, music and cinema in the country operate mainly of French. Altogether now talking about 10 % of the population fluent in French, while 21 % is partially understand and speak.
"National languages "
Some Senegalese languages have the status of a "National Language": Balanta - Ganja; Hassaniya; Diola; Mandinka; Mandjak; Mankanja; Noon ( Serer - Noon ); Fulfulde; Seereer - Siin; Soninke and Wolof. More will be added: The first article of the Senegalese Constitution of January 7, 2001 states this: " The official language of Senegal is French. The National languages are Diola, Mandinka, Fulfulde, Seereer, Soninke, Wolof and any other national language, which is codified. " Under codification is to be understood that the languages provided with a standardized spelling and thus made suitable for education. In the early 1990s, had been created for literacy in the national languages a ministry. So far, 19 Senegalese languages were codified and also established in 2008 a National Academy of Languages .
Currently, Wolof, Serer, Fulfulde, Mandinka, Soninke and Diola are next used in French primary schools. Soninke and Mandinka are among the Mande. Diola is the most important language in the Casamance region. The Centre de linguistique appliquée de Dakar is committed to the regulation of the West Atlantic languages.
Traffic language Wolof
Wolof is the most widely used language of Senegal and the actual lingua franca of Senegal. For about 50% of the country's population, it is the native language, another 20 to 30% speak it as a second language and many non- Wolof speak this language on native level. Estimated 95 % of the population understand Wolof.
Wolof therefore was also the official language of the short-lived confederation of Senegambia Senegal and neighboring Gambia. Wolof is closely related both to the also very popular Fulfulde and with the Serer. 2010, the Senegalese Constitution was first officially translated from French to Wolof.
Languages in Senegal
. Spokesman numbers of languages in Senegal, according to Ethnologue in 2006, data refer only to the speaker within the country, to several of the 39 languages , there are also alternative names: